Display rack



March 25 1924. 1 ,488,213

E. E. M ELROY DISPLAY RACK Filed Nov. 20 -1922 2 Sheets-$heet 1 March 25 1924. 1,488,213

E. E. M ELRQY DISPLAY RACK Filed Nov. 20. 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Mar. 25, 1924. r

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ELMER E. IVEGELROY, OF YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO.

DISPLAY BACK.

1 Applicationfilcd November 20, 1922. Serial No. 602,136.

V and useful Display Rack, of which the folslowing is a specification.

This invention relates to display racks designed primarily for holding rolls of linoleum, rugs and similar products so that they can be inspected readily by prospective purchasers without requiring any heavy lifting by the salesmen and without danger of tearing or otherwise injuring the goods.

Another object is to provide a display rack which is simple, durable andcompact in construction, can be rotated readily to bring a selected roll into positionfor convenient inspection, and can be moved readily from place to place within a show room.

Another object is to provide a display rack adjustable-t0 hold rolls of different lengths.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts'which will be hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims, it being understood that changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention asclaimed.

. In the accompanying drawings the preferred form of the invention has been shown. 7

In said drawings. V

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the display rack, a portion of a roll of material being shown in position therein. j;

Figure 2 is an enlarged central vertical section through the rack, the central portion thereof being removed.

Figure'3 is a'plan view of the base of the rack.

Figure 1 is a section through portions of a roll in engagement with its holding means.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference 1 designates a base frame preferably rectangular and preferably formed of channelled stock having corner posts 2 upstanding therefrom and attached to the frame by means of nuts 3 or the like. These posts can be made of heavy rods the upper ends of which are secured by means of nuts 4 or the like to the corner portions of a top frame 5 similar in construction to the bottom frame 1. Parallel cross strips 6 are secured to the frame 1 and parallel tie rods 7 are also secured to said frame and extend under and at right angles to the strips 6 so as to support them near their centers.

A bearing plate 8 is secured on the strips 6 and has a central opening 9 about which is formed a concentric ball race 10.

The top frame 5 is also provided with cross strips similar to the strips 6 and one of which has been shown at 11. Cross rods 12 support these strips at intermediate points and a bearing plate 13 is secured to the strips 11 and has a central opening 14 in vertical alignment with the opening 9.

Casters 15 are connected to the bottom frame 1 and serve to support the structure.

Thus the rack can be moved readily from I place to place.

Extending through the openings 9 and 1A are the end portionsof a shaft 16. A collar 17 is secured to the'shaft near its lower .a circular ball race 22 in its bottom face into which projects a series of anti-friction balls 23 mounted in the race 10. Head 20 is thus supported by the balls 23 so as to rotate freely and this head, through the standards 19, supports the shaft 16.

The top head 24 of the rack is mounted on the upper portion of the shaft 16 and is of the same size as the head 20. A sleeve 25 is adjustably mounted on the shaft 16 and is held adjustably thereon by a set screw or the like. Standards 27 are extended upwardly from the sleeve and fastened to the head 2 1. Thus the head is supported on the shaft 16 but can be adjusted toward or from the head 20.

Formed in the top face of the head 20' is an annular series 0 recesses 28 equidistant from the shaft 16. These recesses, which cang'be lined with wear thimbles 29, are adapted to receive the lower ends of bearing pins 30 the upper ends of which are cupped as shown at 31. These pins are extended through the centers of roll supporting disks 32 having central bosses 33 projecting downwardly therefrom and adapted to contact cups 31.

with the top of the head 20. Centering disks 34c may be placed above the respective disks 32, these disks 3 L having sockets 35 in their lower faces at the centers thereof for bearing on anti-friction balls 36 seated in the It is to be understood that instead of providing the balls 36 the upper ends of the pins 30 can be rounded so as to project into the sockets 35. V

Secured to the bottom face of the upper head 24- is an annular series of disks 37 having socket extensions 38 projecting downwardly therefrom, these extensions being equidistant fromthe shaft 16 and disposed in vertical alignment with the respec tive disks 34. 7

As is well known to those acquainted with the art, heavy floor coverings such as linoleum and the like are sold in rolls, each roll being mounted on a core extending throughout the length of the roll. In F igure 4 the rolled material has been indicated at M and the core within the roll of material has been indicated at G. The rack herein described is designed to hold a num ber of rolls of the same length. The head 24 is first adjusted relative to the head 20 until the distance between the disks 32 and the disks 37 is slightly greater than the length of the rolls to be held. The core 0 of one of the rolls is then thrust longitudinally so as to project from one end of the roll after which a disks 34 is placed in the recess formed'in the other end of the roll by the shifting of the core. The roll is placed in an upstanding position and'the projecting end of the core C is inserted into one of the sockets 38. Said roll is then swung to a vertical position so as to bring its lower end into position upon the disk 32 in Vertical alignment with said socket. Disk 34 will gravitate onto the ball 36 or projecting end of the pin 30-and will thus be centered. The roll of material is now properly connected to the rack audit is to be understood that the same procedure may be followed in placing the other rolls in the rack.

lVhenever it is desired to display the material of one of the rolls the heads 20 and 24 are rotated until the selected roll has been brought to position for convenient inspection. By pulling on the free'endjof the rolled material said material will be unrolled partly from its core and can be wrapped around the rack, the posts or rods 2 serving as a support for the unrolled material. Thereafter the material can be completely unrolledif so desired or can be re- Wound upon its core.

lVhat is claimed is:

1. The combination with superposed rotatable heads, a central connection therebetween,' and a frame in which the heads are mounted, oi socket members depending from the lower taco of the upper heads and open-.

ing downwardly for receiving the upper end oi upwardly. displaced cores of rolled material, disks on the lower head for engaglower face of "the upper head, and opening downwardly to receive the upwardly displaced cores of rolled material when directed upwardly into the socket members, an annular series of disks rotatably mounted on the lower head for supporting the lower end of rolled material when displaced downwardly relative to their cores, means upon each of said disks for engaging and supporting the cores in upwardly displaced position, said means being surrounded by the downwardlydisplaced disk engaging portions of the rolled material to hold said material against radial displacement relative to the disks supporting them. r

Intestimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afiixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

Witnesses:

HARRY P. Bum FRED C. PORTER. 

